University of Missouri Extension

The County Agent

Editor's noteThe following abstract describes a publication that is only available for purchase. A link to ordering information is on this page.

Arnold BarberCounty Extension Agent

Mention the days of cherry pie contests, emergency silos constructed for the drought of 1934, horse training and "The 100 Bushel Corn Clubs" and you mention the days Barber writes about in this book. His career as a county extension agent in northern Missouri and his observations give insight into agriculture from the 1930s to the 1980s.

Excerpts from county record books and original black-and-white photographs add to his descriptions of forestry, dairy farms, agricultural engineering, the Depression, animal science, 4-H, the women's movement, the American Royal and more.

Also included are topics such as how the grain boom of the 1970s switched a predominantly livestock agriculture to more grain and the growing demands for a uniform product today's beef industry faces, despite having burgeoned from three main breeds to more than 71.